Solution Architect – Mainframe Modernization
ey ResponsibilitiesLead the architecture and technical strategy for modernizing large-scale mainframe and COBOL applications.Assess existing application portfolios, including COBOL programs, batch processes, databases, integrations, dependencies, and business rules.Develop current-state and future-state architecture models, modernization roadmaps, and phased implementation plans.Recommend the appropriate modernization approach for each system, including rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, rewriting, or retiring applications.Design solutions that transition legacy functionality to modern platforms using Java, APIs, microservices, cloud services, and containerized environments.Identify and document business rules embedded within COBOL applications, JCL, stored procedures, and batch-processing workflows.Define integration patterns between legacy mainframe systems and modern applications during phased migration.Architect secure APIs and service layers that expose existing mainframe functionality to modern applications.Develop strategies for modernizing VSAM, DB2, flat-file, and other legacy data structures.Ensure proposed solutions meet SSA requirements for security, privacy, availability, performance, accessibility, and regulatory compliance.Create architecture diagrams, technical design documents, interface specifications, data-flow models, and migration plans.Evaluate modernization tools and platforms, including automated code analysis, code conversion, dependency mapping, testing, and data-migration solutions.Establish standards for cloud adoption, microservices, DevSecOps, automated testing, CI/CD, observability, and infrastructure as code.Collaborate with business stakeholders, enterprise architects, mainframe developers, cloud engineers, cybersecurity teams, data architects, and program leadership.Provide technical guidance to development teams throughout design, implementation, testing, deployment, and production transition.Identify architectural risks, technical debt, system dependencies, and potential service disruptions.Support proof-of-concept initiatives to validate modernization approaches before enterprise-scale implementation.Present architectural recommendations and modernization plans to technical and executive stakeholders.Required Qualifications10+ years of experience in enterprise application architecture, software engineering, or systems modernization.7+ years of hands-on experience with mainframe technologies and COBOL-based applications.Strong experience with COBOL, JCL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, batch processing, and z/OS environments.Demonstrated experience architecting or leading the modernization of large, mission-critical legacy systems.Strong understanding of mainframe application dependencies, transaction processing, scheduling, data structures, and system integrations.Experience developing modernization strategies using rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, rewriting, and hybrid migration approaches.Experience designing modern applications using Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, microservices, and event-driven architecture.Experience integrating mainframe applications with distributed, web-based, or cloud-native systems.Experience with AWS, Microsoft Azure, or another enterprise cloud platform.Strong understanding of relational databases, data conversion, data migration, and reconciliation.Experience with containers and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.Knowledge of DevSecOps practices, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code.Experience creating enterprise architecture artifacts, solution designs, modernization roadmaps, and technical standards.Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical decisions to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.